Police braced to beat drunken disorder for Euro 2012 and Olympics

POLICE in the East Riding are bracing themselves to deal with the threat of a summer of drunken disorder – possibly fuelled by illegal alcohol.

The Humberside force is planning a campaign to head off trouble connected with the Euro 2012 football championships and the Olympics.

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Prepared: Inspector David Braysmith is pledging a firm approach to deal with drinking-related violence this summer. Picture: Jack Harland

There is the added threat of problems being fuelled by the recent growth in illegal home-brew vodka.

Last week, a man from Goole was hospitalised after drinking vodka from a home-made still.

Investigators have found no evidence the East Riding has any industrial-scale illegal distilleries, such as those uncovered elsewhere in the country, particularly Lincolnshire.

But many people from East Yorkshire’s ever-growing Eastern European immigrant population are steeped in the culture of distilling their own spirits.

Inspector David Braysmith, lead on licensing, public order and violent crime for the East Riding, said: “With last week’s incident we weren’t absolutely sure whether it was home brew from someone’s garden shed or whether it was something on a larger, more commercial, scale, that could have a connection to crime. Now we think it was moonshine from a local still.

“With the Olympics, Euro 2012 and the Jubilee, we foresee it as a summer of drinking.”

Insp Braysmith said police were poised to launch a campaign relating to alcohol and disorder.

With teams including Poland, Russia, Ukraine and the Czech Republic all playing in June’s championships there is likely to be huge interest in areas with large Eastern European immigrant populations, like Goole and parts of Hull.

Insp Braysmith said Humberside Police had developed good links with those communities and would be using them to keep a lid on any potential flashpoints.

He said: “I’m not suggesting Eastern Europeans are any different from the indigenous population for drinking but it’s well-known that certain members of those communities enjoy their alcohol.

“There is the added factor of potential illicit alcohol, which is unsafe to drink.”